SKF helps plant save €6,400 and reach full load five months sooner

The challenge

A 1,000 MW coal-fired power station identified six pulverizer roll wheel bearings that needed replacement before the pulverizer could return to service. Upon checking the lead time for new bearings, plant management discovered that the scheduled requirements could not be met.

The station’s pulverizer is critical to maintaining peak power. In the absence of a spare to serve as back-up, the pulverizer had to be brought back to its original specifications so the station could keep running without interruption until its next scheduled major outage.

The SKF solution

After completing inspection and failure analysis, SKF determined that the bearings, although damaged, could be restored. SKF was able to remanufacture the bearings in six weeks, compared to seven months of lead-time that a new bearing set required.

The results

SKF saved the plant €6 400 in bearing purchases and related costs, plus five months of potential reduced power production worth over an estimated one million euros in lost revenue.

Return On Investment (ROI)

Eventual purchase and installation of new bearings €17 750

Cost of remanufacturing by SKF and installation €11,350

Total savings €6,400

Total ROI 56%

Note: All numbers are rounded off and based on customer estimates. Your particular cost savings may vary.